In terms of basic functionality, WegoWise is very similar to MyEnergy (also on our resource list): both sites will automatically retrieve your utility usage data from  your utility companies, display this data all together on your personalized dashboard, and compare your usage against that of like properties.  But WegoWise offers users a much more finely grained picture of your building’s energy and water use than MyEnergy does, as well as more sophisticated graphing and reporting tools.

These tools are great not only for property managers with a large portfolio of buildings but also homeowner energy geeks, which I seem to have become (if you download your home’s utility data into an excel spreadsheet every month, then you are an energy geek and would probably love WegoWise).

And if you’re only tracking one building and don’t want to share your data with other users, you get all the tracking and analytical tools for free!  If you own multiple properties and/or wish to share your data, you will need a Wegopro account, starting costs for which are $5/building/month.  In my opinion, though, this is money well-spent.

But not quite. Fortunately, there’s an online resource to help consumers wade through the options and make informed, energy-efficient choices.  The Efficient Windows Collaborative includes a primer on windows, guidance for selecting windows for new construction and remodels, and a tool for calculating and comparing the costs of different window options.  Whether you are shopping for windows or just want to understand how (well) your existing windows work, the site is well worth a visit.

For those who aren’t familiar with Hubway here’s a quick lowdown.  There are currently 60+ bike stations with 600+ bikes around Boston, and there are plans to expand to other neighborhoods and surrounding towns this year.  In order to ride you need to purchase a membership–annual if you plan to ride regularly ($85); casual 24-hour ($5) or casual 3-day ($12) if your use will be short-term.  Whatever plan you choose, you get an unlimited number of rides up to 30 minutes each.

The beauty of the system–and what makes it work–is that you can check a bike out from one station and return it to another.  Which means that Hubway provides an alternative to walking and public transportation.  It’s green, it’s healthy, it’s convenient for residents and visitors alike.  It’s brilliant, if you ask me.

Enter MyEnergy: an energy software company that retrieves and tracks utility data for residential consumers (whose utilities offer an online account portal) for free.  Sign up is incredibly simple: you enter your utility account information along with your login and password.  And, voila, MyEnergy creates a dashboard that displays your usage, compares it to your neighbors and offers you tips to help you save.  Each month you receive a usage summary by email and your dashboard automatically updates to reflect your latest usage data.  MyEnergy is also working on incentives to encourage savings.  Try it out and let me know what you think.  Is the feedback better that what you can get from your utility?

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and encompasses a suite of green building certifications including LEED for Homes (or LEED-H).  Even if you are not interested in certification, LEED-H is a fantastic reference guide to building a home that uses energy and water efficiently, is healthy for the occupants, and treads as lightly as possible on both the local and global environment.

Not building new? Just renovating? USGBC offers another great resource specifically for home remodeling.  While not a rating system, the REGREEN program provides a wealth of information–much of it in the form of case studies–that can help homeowners and professionals alike incorporate strategies, techniques and materials into a remodeling project to improve home performance and reduce environmental impacts over the long-term.

The Boston Society of Architects provides professional development for members, advocates on behalf of great design, and shares an appreciation for the built environment with the public at large.

Established in 1867, the BSA today consists of more than 3,500 members and produces a diverse array of programs and publications, including Build Boston (which we are proud to be a part of) and ArchitectureBoston. As a chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the Society is a nonprofit, professional-service organization.

MassRecycle holds a number of events throughout the year to help communities and organizations implement successful waste reduction programs.  Programming highlights include an annual green office conference, recycling facilities tours, and advocacy for sound public policy around recycling and other forms of waste reduction.